surviving infidelity series: How Far I've Come Since Discovering the Infidelity

The physical and emotional effects of infidelity can turn lives upside down in an instant. The first few weeks and months after finding out about a cheating spouse, most people describe intense, life altering experiences. The "side effects" of dealing with infidelity include depression and anxiety, loss of appetite/weight loss, extreme mood swings, etc... When these "side effects" become unmanageable, many will turn to medicine to help them cope during this time of devastation and turmoil. The following testimonial is from a woman who realized her life had become unmanageable as a consequence of dealing with adultery. She chose to turn to meds as she coped with the pain.

The first few weeks after discovering the infidelity were extremely hard.  I lost about twenty pounds in one month.  I could not swallow my food.  I had so much anxiety I felt like my chest was going to explode. I had to go to the doctor after the infidelity discovery for meds to help me, besides the heartache of the affair.  I was getting evicted from our apartment.  I sold all of our furniture and moved back in with my parents.  They helped me with our three children because all I wanted to do was lay in bed.  I started to be out from work and fall behind in my job.  All I was able to focus on was the thoughts of him being with her and how I was betrayed. My husband wanted nothing to do with me or the kids and told me he was going to marry this woman.  I would call him crying almost every day and beg him to come home.  My friends, family and co-workers who knew the situation really supported me.  I started to talk to other people who have been in the same situation which really helped me because I knew I was not the only person in the world dealing with this pain.  Then I found this website and read your book.  I started to follow your advice and back off.  I stopped calling, begging and made a decision to move on or at least act like I did... well he started to call, and even would tell me that he missed me and still loved me.  It's been seven months and they have broken up.  She is still looming around him but we have been spending a lot of time together.  At one time this man that was so sure he wanted nothing to do with me and wanted a divorce is now saying things like "if we get back together" hopefully we will but if we don't, I know we will be ok.  I look back at those first days and think about how far I have come.